South Australian Olympians

Mr COWDREY (Colton) (15:01): My question is to the Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing—a timely one, I may add. Can the minister inform the house how the Marshall Liberal government is building what matters to prepare the next generation of Olympians and Paralympians?

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (15:02): I thank the member for Colton for the question—of course, one of the finest Paralympic athletes this state has ever produced. The 2020 Tokyo Olympics have just wrapped up and the Paralympics are underway. It is quite interesting that they were called the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and of course they happened in 2021, but we know what we went through with COVID there. Arguably, it was one of Australia's most successful Olympic campaigns with a contingent—

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! It's the third time I have had to come to my feet during this question time. It has been an absolute rabble. I would like the leader and the member for West Torrens to pipe down. You are both on two warnings. I am listening to the minister's answer.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: What I was talking about was the Paralympic Games that are on at the moment and the Olympic Games, which took place as part of Tokyo 2020, and to congratulate all those involved. As you would know, we have invested $49 million into our South Australian Sports Institute to make sure we have a high-tech home for sport and home for developing our next quality athletes, much like the member for Colton. I do note the clock—

The Hon. L.W.K. Bignell interjecting:

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —and I am being rudely interrupted by the member for Mawson, who perhaps doesn't like sport, I’m not sure. Again this investment was a significant investment, and we will deliver for the people of South Australia.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: I will leave it there. The mumbling is getting to me. I do note we are at the 15-minute mark and others have questions to ask. We have put $400 million into sports since coming into government right across the board, from grassroots to elite level. We are very proud of that, and to have the great results that we saw—

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! I cannot hear a thing.

The Hon. L.W.K. Bignell interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The member for Mawson is warned. The minister has been asked a question. He is entitled to be heard in silence, otherwise more people will be leaving this chamber.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: I know those on that side don't like—

The Hon. L.W.K. Bignell interjecting:

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —to hear about the money we invested in sport, the $400 million.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Minister, I am going to interrupt. The member for Mawson can leave.

The Hon. L.W.K. Bignell interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The member for Mawson can leave without any further comment for half an hour—14 minutes.

The honourable member for Mawson having withdrawn from the chamber:

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: I was just concluding my remarks around the $400 million that we have put into sport, from the grassroots right through to the elite. Our Sports Institute is one of those investments, along with heavy investments into soccer, with Hindmarsh Stadium, the state centre of football. There is Memorial Drive as well and a number of other facilities, such as the basketball stadium at Wayville—$15 million there—and netball as well.

The list goes on, but we are here to support our athletes of the future and look forward to many more successes into the future. Again, I commend the member for Colton for his question and his great record. I look forward to watching the rest of the Paralympics and supporting our athletes there.